SEATTLE—September 13, 2006—Signs of construction which signal the beginning of Phase II of the High Point redevelopment are becoming more and more visible every day.
Temporary fencing to cordon off the construction area has been installed around the work area.
A new vehicle turn-around has been constructed near High Point Elementary to reroute and facilitate traffic from buses and children being dropped off and picked up at the school.
Tri-State Construction Incorporated of Bellevue, Washington was awarded the Infrastructure Contract for this part of Phase II construction last month and they have already tackled crucial administrative actions.
“Tri-State has a very thoughtful approach,” said Tom Phillips, High Point redevelopment manager.
“They are really considering the impacts of the construction on the neighborhood and planning very carefully to minimize disruption.”
Tri-State has met with the school district to go over safe walking routes for children in the area, has been communicating with High Point residents and partners and has organized preconstruction meetings with city-wide agencies.
This month Tri-State and its subcontractors began asbestos abatement in the existing vacated housing, and will then follow on with their demolition operation. This activity will take about six months to complete. As in the first phase of redevelopment, some materials will be salvaged in the demolition process.
Tri-State’s other contract responsibilities in this phase are the site development work, which includes grading, utilities, streets, sidewalks, traffic signals, landscaping in the public right of way, and the natural drainage system.
Cynthia Shick, High Point development project coordinator, explained that much of the work in this phase happens underground. “The systems underground that serve the public include layers of important service networks that are often taken for granted – the sewer system, water supply, storm water system, and ‘dry’ utilities such as cable, phone, gas and power”, said Shick.
“Each system must be designed and constructed to do its own job, while taking into account that it must be placed alongside all of the other systems. It makes you really respect what engineers and contractors working together are able to achieve.”
As seen in the first phase of the construction at High Point, the second phase will also take a sustainable approach. Trees original to the neighborhood will be protected and the natural drainage system will continue throughout the project. More than 100 mature trees that range in value from $13,000 to more than $70,000 are being preserved at High Point. Contractors working in the area agree to pay the value of the trees plus other damage expenses if they harm them in any way.
Once the infrastructure and utilities work is completed, construction of the housing can begin. The bid for a housing construction general contractor is planned to go out to the public in January 2007, with housing construction planned to start in the summer. Once that phase of construction begins it will take approximately two years to complete.
High Point is Seattle Housing's largest redevelopment site. By the end of the decade, High Point will have 1,600 new affordable and market-rate units across its 120 acres. All of the homes at High Point meet local Built Green three-star standards and 150 trees on the original site have been preserved throughout the redevelopment.
High Point's natural drainage system cleans, cools, and filters stormwater runoff to Longfellow Creek, which has the highest number of Coho salmon in all of Seattle's creeks. Four miles of grassy and vegetated swales enhance the watershed, also preserving the area's water and ecosystem quality.